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On the Royal Road – The Burgher King

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
On the Royal Road by Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek is a sharp and prescient play that explores right-wing populism through the allegory of a self-absorbed king who unexpectedly ascends to power. Inspired by the election of Donald Trump, the drama unfolds as a grotesque and tragic reflection on contemporary politics, capturing the disbelief and complicity of the global community in the rise of authoritarianism.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This play appeals to readers interested in contemporary politics, social critique, and theatre that challenges cultural and political phenomena. It is especially suited for those who appreciate satirical works with a sharp edge and significant topical resonance.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Carefully perched somewhere between tragedy and grotesque, high-pitched and squeamish, Jelinek's play, On the Royal Road, brings into focus the phenomenon of right-wing populism, which spreads like a virus and has a lasting effect on global politics.

Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek is known as a writer who works in response to contemporary crises and cultural phenomena. Perhaps none of her works display that quality as clearly as On the Royal Road. Three weeks after Donald Trump’s election, Jelinek mailed her German editor the first draft of this play, which turns out to be a stunningly prescient response to Trump and what he represents. In this drama, we discover that a “king,” blinded by himself, who has made a fortune with real estate, golf courses, and casinos, suddenly rules the United States, and the rest of the people of the world rub their eyes in disbelief until no one sees anything anymore.

As topical as the evening news, yet with insight built on a lifetime of closely observing politics and culture, On the Royal Road brings into focus the phenomenon of right-wing populism, which spreads like a virus and has a lasting effect on global politics. Carefully perched somewhere between tragedy and grotesque, high-pitched and squeamish, Jelinek in this work questions her own position and forms of resistance.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised for its rich metaphors and incisive satire, On the Royal Road confronts the dangers of unchecked power with unflinching honesty. The Daily Star (India) highlights its universal relevance beyond any one nation, while Translation and Literature commends Gitta Honegger's translation for its intellectual rigour and masterful linguistic style.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781803092300

Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 July 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Seagull Books London Ltd

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 1.0mm

Width: 5.0mm

Height: 8.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 146

About the Author

Elfriede Jelinek is an Austrian playwright and novelist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2004. Her best-known novels are Lust and The Children of the Dead. Gitta Honegger has translated several works by Jelinek, as well as plays by Elias Canetti, Thomas Bernhard, Peter Handke, Franz Xaver Kroetz and Marieluise Fleißer, among others.

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